Pneumatic action for player pianos and the like



A. P. GUSTAFSONQ PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR PLAYER PIANOS AND THE LIKE.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, 1919. 1,423,505.

Patented July 18, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1. J

A. P. GUSTAFSON. PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR PLAYER PIANOS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, 1919.

1,423,505. I Patented July 18, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2 ml lllp 1&922 7 BY A A TORNEY UNITED STATES P TEN OFFICE.

Hom 2?. eus'rarson. or onxcaeo. rumors. AssIeNoa iv scn LZ COMPANY,

or CHICAGO. ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

rNE'oMA'rio samurai: mum PIANOS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of tmrs Patent P tent fl 1 922 Application fil ed mach 1, 1919. Serial No. 280,120.

T 0 all whom itwm g canoe 1%.:

Be it known that I. ilinonrnflpGnsrarsoN, a citizen oi the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois; have invented. a certain new and useful Improvement in lneumatic Actions for Player Pianos and the like, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part 0t this specification:

My invention relates topneumatic actions for player pianos and the like.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a practical and. efficient pneumatic action of the class-specified. 7

Another object of theinvention is to simplii'y the construction of saidfiactiomreducing the complication-of the. mechanism and the cost of manufacture.

Another object of the invention is tolprevent shrinkage of thepouches from interfering with the eliiciency of the action.

Another object of theinvention is .to secure the foregoing and other desirable results in'a simple and expeditious manner.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view, of a portion ofja pneumatic action embodying my present invention;

Fig. 2 is aperspective view of one of the power pneumatics of. the same Fig. 3 is a cross section of the action taken on line 33 of] Fig. 1;" i liig. 4: isa'cross section of Fig. 3; and

Figs; 5, 5 and construction. 1

Referring, to the drawingsl show in. Fig.

takenon line 6 are views of details of 1 a portion of a pneumatic action involving a box or casing 1 comprising certain pneumatic mechanism as will be more fully hereinafter pointed out. The action also involves a plurality of power pneumaties 2-2 which are preferably secured to theunder side of the box or casing 1; as well Shown in Fig. 3. The box or casing 1 is suitably mounted in a player piano or in some other instrument, in accordance with known arrangements by wvhich said box or casing is extended crosswise ot' the playerpiano in front of the piano action, and the pneumatics 22 are so disposed that they can operate upon the piano action, as for example by acting against the; sticker Fig. 3. y

The box or casing 1' is provided with a 3 thereof, as shown in .longitudinally extending duct or chamber 4 which is understood to be suitably connected with avind inducing apparatus, as for, example by a tubular connection 5', in such a way that a; reduced air pressure is continually present inthe duct or chamber 4i; during, the operation of the instrument. Atin-tervals along the top of the box or casing 1. thereare valve chambers 6'-6 in wh ch are located valves 7-7, each of these valves 77 being located over onefot the power pneumatics 2-2. Each valve 7 is prov ded w th a stem ocextension 8 which extends down through-a duct or passageway 9, which lattercommunicates withthe wind chamber i. the ductor passage 9 being somea what largerthanthe member 8 so as to permit free movement of "the latter. ,Thevalve stems-or members 8 are preferably made of irregular cross section, as tor example cross [shaped as shown in Fig. 5, whereby ample opportui'iity' is allowed for the passage. of air while at. the same time the stem 8 1s of sufficient size to hold the valve against undue side movement while permitting a. certain.

amount of vertical movement as is required for itsjoperation. Finch valve chamber 6 is substantially closed by a disc member 10 fitted into a correspondingly shaped recess in the top of the box or casing land provided with central aperture ll jiwhich forms a port affording communication be tween the chamber (Sand, the outside air. The duct or passage 9 also t'orms a port between thevalve chamber 6 and thewind chest chamber 4:. These ports 9 and 11; are controlled by the valve .7, said valve 7 closing'the port 9 and opening the port 11 when in a. lowered position, and opening the port 9 and closing the port 11 when in an u ward or elevated position. "The valve 7 an stem 8 are connected together by means of a small screw 7 secured in the stem 8, and passed through a slot in the leather washer 7 onthe bottom oft-he valve. There is a small space 7 between the valve 7 and stem 8 to permit relative adjustment or play between valve and stem.

Below each valve a pouch arrangement for. operating said 7 and stem thereis 5 the valve. In the construction shown this comprises a pouch 12 which is intended to be actuated pneumatically so as to lift the valve 7 by acting upon the stem 8. This pouch 12 is extended. between two side members 13-13, the pouch 12 being loosely hung so that it has ample play. Mounted upon the pouch 12 as a preferred arrangement is a block or plate 14 preferably made of wood or some similar material. This block or plate 1 1 is located under the stem 8 of the valve with which the pouch 12 is associated, so that said block 1 1 will strike and act upon the stem 8 when the pouch is expanded and elevated. The side members 13 are preferably provided by another block 15 which is secured to the top off the pneumatic 2, the box or casing 1 having its bottom provided with a chamber 16 in which said block 15 is set. The block 15 is preferably constructed with a channel or recess 17 at the sides of which the members 13 are located, said members .13 projecting upwardly from the floor forming the bottom of said channel or recess, whereby said members 13 form elevations or projections or side walls between which. the pouch 12 may be extended and between which there is formed a substantial recess or channel in which. said pouch may rest. In this way the pouch 12 may be made very loose and consequently it may shrink, as pouches ol this sort do, without doing any harm or impairing the efliciency or effectiveness of the action in the least.

For operating each pouch 12 a tracker board tube 18 is shown, such tube 18 being understood to run to the tracker board. in the manner usual in player pianos. This tube 18 is connected with a duct 19 preferably formed in the top or fixed member o I the pneumatic 2 and terminated in a port or duct 20 underneath the central portion of the pouch 12 and block i l, whereby the usual variation of air pressure in the tube 18 will cause the actuation of the pouch 12 and thereby the operation oi the valve 7.

A bleed arrangement is preferably provided. in the block 14, as for example by forming a recess or aperture 21 therein and inserting a nipple 22 in said recess 21, the nipple 22 having a bleed aperture 23-; and the pouch 12 having an aperture 24: by which communication may be established through the bleed hole 23, between the vacuum cham ber or chest 4;, and the pneumatic tube 18. This simplifies the construction and reduces number of parts and cost of manutacture.

The connection is made between the interior of the pneumatic 2 and the valve chamber -6 by means of a port or duct 6 the port 6" opening into a chamber 25 communicating with the in-- tenor of the pneumatic 2.

In this way the travelling music sheet controls the air pressure in the tube 18 and this in. turn effects the operation. of the pouch 12 and the latter causes the actuation of the valve 7 so as to open the duct 6 either to the vacuum chest 4; or to the atmosphere, as the case may be, and. thereby causes the collapse or expansion of said pneumatic 2 and the consequent operation of the pneumatic sticker 3 and the piano action controlled thereby.

It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made without dcparting from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A wind chest box or casing having a member provided along its top with valve chambers and along its bottom with pouch chambers, and also having a wind passage or duct extending longitudinally below said valve chambers, valves in said valve chambers, said valves being provided with stems extending down from the valve chambers into said wind passage or duct, pneumatics secured at intervals along the under side of said member and arranged to close said pouch chambers, and pouches mounted on said pneumatics and arranged. to cooperate with said valves, the upper members of said pneumatics being provided with ducts or passages adapted for connection with tracker board tubes, said pouches being provided with bleed ports.

2. A wind chest box or casing having a member provided along its top with valve chambers and along its bottom with pouch chambers, and also having a wind passage or duct extending longitudinally below said valve chambers, valves in said valve chambers, said valves being provided with stems extending down from the valve chambers into said wind passage or duct, pneumatics secured at intervals along the under side of said member and arranged to close said pouch chambers, and pouches mounted on said pneumatics and arranged to cooperate with said valves, the upper members of said pneumatics being provided with ducts or passages adapted for connection with tracker board tubes, said pouches being provided with bleed ports, and blocks mounted on said pouches, said. blocks being provided. with bleed ports adapted to cooperate with said bleed ports in said pouches.

In a pneumatic action. the combination of a valve and a pouch for actuating said valve, projecting numbers between which said pouch is extended. said pouch being loose so that it may depend between said members, said pouch being also provided with a block adapted to act upon the valve, said block being provided with an aperture containing a nipple provided with a bleed port, said pouch being provided with an.

portion of said member.

aperture to permit communication with said bleed port, i I

4. [In a pneumatic action, the combination of a valve and a pouch. for actuating said valvi, projecting members between which said pouch is extended, said pouch being loose so that it may dependbetween said members, said pouch being also provided with a blocl r adapted to act upon the valve, said blocl-r being provided with an aperture containing a nipple provided with] a bleed port, said pouch being provided with an aperture to permit communication with said bleed port, said pouch supporting projections being provided by a block which alsohas an aperture permitting communication with said bleed port. i

5, In a pneumatic actiomthe combination of a valve provided with a downwardly ex tending valve stem, a block 15 mounted below said valve and having upwardly projecting longitudinally extending side projections 13, a pouch mounted upon said block 15. and extended between the projections 13 thereof, said pouch being loose so as to rest upon the floor between the projections 13, a second block 14 mounted-on'the pouch l2 and extended lengthwise of the block iii-between the side projections 13 thereof, said block 14: having an aperture n'ovidml with a nipple 22 having a bleed port 23, paid block l labeing adapted to actupon said valve stem and said pouch and block lobeing provided with apertures permitting communication with the bleed port 15. l i

6. In a pneumatlc action, a valve operating pouch provided with a block having an aperture containing a nipple provided with. a bleed port.

IT. pneumatic action having a wind chest box or casing provided with a longitudinally extending member, the top of which is provided with a series of valve chambers formed by recesses in the upper said member being also provided with a longitudinally extending wind passage arrangedbelowsaid recesses with openings between said recesses and sau'lwind chamber, and being also provided with pouch chambers located below said wind chamber and below therespective valve chambers. valves having heads adapted to fit in said chambers and having stems smaller than said heads and extending through said valve stem openings, a series of pneumatics secured to the under side of said member and adapted to bridge and thereby close said pouch openings and provided on their upper surfaces with pouches cooperating with said valve stems, said pouches being carried by blocks mounted on the upper surface of said pneumatics and extending into said pouch chambers. l

pneumatic action having a wind,

chest box or casing provided with a longitudinally extending member. the top of which is provided with a se ies of valve chambers formed by recessesin the upper portion of said member. said member being; also provided with a longitudinally extending wind. passage arranged below said re cesses with openings between saidrccesses and said wind chamber, and being also provided, with pouch chambers located below said wind chamber and below the respective valve chambers, valves having heads adapted to fit in said chambers and havingstems smaller than said heads and extendjin through said valve stem openings, a series or pneumatics secured to the under side of said member and adapted to bridge and thereby closesaid pouch openings and provided on their upper surfaces with pouches cooperating with said valve stems, said pouches being carried by blocks mounted on the up per surface of said pneumatics and extend ing into said pouch chambers, and other blocks mounted on top of said pouches and below and close to the lower ends of said valve stems. v

i 9. A pneumatic action having a wind chest box orcasing provided with a longitudinally extending member,,the top of which is-provided with a series of valve chambers formed by recesses in the upper portion of sald member, said member being also provided with a longitudinally extending wind passage arranged below said recesses with openings between said recesses and said wind chamber, and being also provided with pouch chambers located below said wind chamber and below the respective valve chambers, valves having heads adapted to fit in said chambers and having stems smaller than said heads and. extending throughsaid valve stem openings, a series ofpneumatics secured to the under side of said member and adapted to bridgeand thereby close said pouch openings, and provided on their upper surfaces with pouches cooperating with said valve stems said pouches being: carried by blocks mounted. on the upper surface of said pneumatics ,and extending into said pouch chambers. and other blocks mounted on top of said pouches and below the close to the lower ends of said valve stems, said lower blocks being elongated,andqprovided with longitudinally and upwardly extending projections at their edges, on which edges said pouches are mounted, and said upper blocks being also elongated and adaptedto fit closely between said projections so as to properly seek said upper blocks.

10. A pneumatic action having a hinged pneumatic mounted with its swinging member below its fixed member, said fixed member being provided on its upper surface with an elongated block extending lengthwise of said filicd member and provided with upwardly and longitudinally extending projections. 2 ouch arranged upon said block and having J side edges secured to sa d longitudinally extending i nojections, and a. sec- 0nd elongated block extending lengthwise of said first mentioned. block and mounted on said pouch and. adapted to seat between said projections.

11. In a pneunilatie action a block having a groove provided. with parallel side walls, a pouch covering said groove and a block mounted on the pouch and extending lengthwise oi"- said side walls, said bloclr and pouch being provided with a bleed port.

12; in a pneuniiatic action a block having a. groove provided with parallel side walls, apouch covering said groove and a block moimted on the pouch and extending lengthwise of said side walls, said last mentioned block being provided with an aperture containing a metallic thimble having a blood port and the pouch also being provided with an aperture permitting communication with said bleed port.

13. In a pneinnatic action a block having a groove provided with parallel side walls, a pouch covering said groove and a block mounted. on the pouch and extending lengthwise o l? saidv side walls, said last mentioned block: being provided with an aperture containing a metallic thimble having a bleed port and the pouch also being provided with an aperture permitting communication with said bleed port, said first mentioned block also having an aperture permitting communication with the bleed port.

141-. In a pneumatic action the combination of a block provided with a longitudinally extending groove, a pouch mounted on said block and extending across the groove thereof, said punch being loose so as to permit it to depend into said. groove, and a second block mounted on said pouch. and extending lengthwise ot the groove thereof, said last mentioned block and pouch being provided with a blood port.

15. In a pneumatic action the combination of a block provided. with a longitudinally extending groove, a pouch mounted on said block and extending across the groove there of, said pouch being loose so as'to permit it to depend into said groove, and a second block. mounted on. said pouch and extending lengthwise of the groove thereof, said last mentioned block and pouch being provided with a bleed port, and said first mentioned bloclt being provided with a duct adapted to communicate with said bleed port.

16. in a l'meurnatic action the combination oil a block provided with a longitudinally extending groove, a pouch mounted on said block and extending across the groove thereof. said pouch being loose so as to permit it to depend into said groove, and a second, block mounted on said pouch and extending lengthwise oi the groove thereof, said. last mentioned block and pouch being provided with a bleed port. and said first mentioned block being novided with a port adapted to communicate with said bleed port, and a power pnerunatic on which said first mentioned block is mounted.

17. The combination of a pneumatic and a block mounted on the fixed member 01": said pneumatic. a pouch mounted on said block, and a second block mounted on said pouch. said second mentioned block being provided with a thimble forming a. bleed port and said pouch also being provided with a bleed port. and said fixed member of: said pneumatic being provided with a duct adapted tor connection with a tracker board tube and extending to said pouch.

18. A wind-wav box or casing comprising a member having its top provided with valve chambers and its under side provided with pouch chambers. said member being also provided with. a wind duct or passage extending longitudinally below said valve chambers, and a second member fitted into one side of said. first mentioned member so as to close that side of said. wind duct or passage.

A wind chamber box or casing comprising a member provided along its top with valve chambers and along its under side with pouch chambers, and also provided. with a wind duct or passage extend innlongitudinally below said valve chaml bers and communicating with the same and with said pouch chambers, said valve and pouch chambers and said wind duct or passage being formed by the material o'F said member, and a second member fitted into one side of? said wind duct or passage so as to close said side of, the same.

in witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 11th day of February, A. 1)., 1919.

ADOLPl-l P. GUSTAFSON. 

